(A) "Alternative meals" means a participant-directed service for sustaining an individual's health by enabling the individual to procure up to two meals per day from a non-traditional provider, such as a restaurant, but not an adult day center.

(B) Every ODA-certified provider of alternative meals shall comply with the following requirements:

(1) General requirements:

(a) The provider shall comply with the requirements for every ODA-certified provider in rule 173-39-02 of the Administrative Code.

(b) The provider shall comply with all the requirements for home-delivered meals in rule 173-39-02.14 of the Administrative Code except the rule's delivery requirements.

(2) Provider qualifications: Only an ODA-certified agency provider shall provide alternative meals.

(C) Unit and rate:

(1) A unit of an alternative meals equals one meal provided according to this rule.

(2) The maximum rate allowable for one unit of an alternative meals is listed in appendix A to rule 5160-1-06.1 of the Administrative Code.

(3) The rates are subject to the rate-setting methodology in rule 5160-31-07 of the Administrative Code.